The Camino Frances

The best known of the Camino routes in Europe(at least for folks in the US) is the Camino Frances. Beginning in Saint Jean Pied de Port France and ending 799kms later in Santiago de Compostela Spain, it has been a path of religious pilgrimage for over 1000 years. Today only a few attempt to complete the walk for religious reasons, but all are welcomed warmly.

Many choose to walk the entire Camino de Santiago, but you can join obtain your pilgrim credential and join at any point along the route. If you desire to obtain the official certificate of completion known as a Compostela, you will need to start walking at least 100kms from Santiago, (usually at the town of Sarria)or start riding a bike or horse 200kms from Santiago. The options are endless. If you have the time and the ambition, spend some time on all 3 modes of travel, there are plenty of rental opportunities for bikes are well as horses.

The terrain varies wildly from the challenging climb over the Pyrenees Mountains early in the trip to the long flat boredom of the Meseta midway along the trail. There is enough variation day to day to challenge most to their physical and mental limits. While there is no technical climbing(ropes, ice walls, etc) the strain of walking 10 to 20 miles a day for a month or two can add up on the feet and the mind.

The weather in Northern Spain is varied depending on the time of your Camino. From sub freezing ice and rain to summer temps well over 100 Fahrenheit, just managing your comfort can be a major challenge. So, if you love basking in the heat and sun, Summer is for you. If you prefer cold mornings and chilly days, the winter may be just the time you need.

Along the Camino you won't need to pack along food, shelter, fire making or water filters. Unless you want to of course, the Camino is what you want it to be. Each day you will walk from village to village along well marked roads and trails with the farthest distance between services around 17kms. For the rest of the time, there are villages with bars, small markets, and lodging every 6 to 10kms making the Camino a very non-gear dependent walk.

 Lodging is up to you. Most elect to stay in the superb system of hostels known in Spain as “albergues”. These are spots that are only open to pilgrims bearing the proper credentials and range from small private albergues with 6 beds, to huge municipal operation with upwards of 500 beds. Most are modest , with a few dozen bunk beds, showers and toilets. You wont have to go without the very basic needs for sleep and hygiene unless you make that decision for yourself...

 Food. Love it or hate it, everyone who walks a Camino has definite opinions about the food. Almost every village has at least one tiny bar that serves coffee, drinks, snacks and the legendary Bocadillo sandwich(dried ham, salami, cheese or any combo on a hard baugette like bun, 12-24” long) that will feed you for a couple of meals and costs between 2 and 5 Euro. Nearly every bar has food and most every restaurant has a 3 course “pilgrims meal” that is served early in the afternoon for around 10 Euro. That includes water and a half bottle of wine. Usually a superb deal!

 Water is ever present. As the Camino is an ancient pilgrims route there are thousands of potable water fountains in even the tiniest of village squares. These are well marked and many date back all the way to the middle ages. Most bars and restaurants will also cheerfully fill your water bottles if you buy a cup of coffee or sport drink. Apart from the off season of winter, you are usually never more than 15kms between water sources. In winter that may be as far as 25kms. More on that later.

 Gearing up for a Camino is many pilgrims favorite part of the experience. From boots to backpacks you will have a chance to tinker with it all. Nice thing is that along the Camino Frances there are plenty of places to repair, replace of impulse buy more equipment.

Relax, this is just the broad overview. We will get to the details on all of the above information quite quickly!